Managing Access to Biobanks:How Can We Reconcile Privacy and Public Interests in Genetic Research?

This article is concerned with the ultimate objectives of genetic biobanks set up to promote the public interest—being the sharing of samples and data for medical research—and the consequences for personal privacy of realising them. Our aim is to chart the values, interests and principles in play, to consider the challenges of realizing biobanking objectives on a global scale, and to propose viable ways forward that ensure, as far as possible, that access provisions remain fit for purpose throughout the entire life of a biobank, while adequately protecting the privacy interests at stake. It is argued that key features in any robust access model must include mechanisms to (a) maintain participant trust in management of the resource and to measure and respond to participants’ expectations, (b) facilitate and promote the sharing of benefits, and (c) respond timeously and effectively to new challenges

Chemische Zusammensetzung und sensorisches Profil von UFA/CLA angereicherter Butter im Vergleich zu konventioneller Butter

In the last years, there has been a growing demand by consumers for foods combining an increased nutritional value and benefits on human health. Butter enriched in unsaturated fatty acids/conjugated linoleic acids (UFA/CLA) could become a food with added value for its increased content in essential fatty acids, in vitamins and CLA, which has been reported to show potential anticarcinogenic and cholesterol lowering effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the sensory and odour profiles of UFA/CLA enriched butter in comparison to conventional butter. Their fatty acid composition, vitamin and metal ion contents were determined in both kinds of butter. Descriptive sensory analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to olfactometry (GC/MS/O) were applied to UFA/CLA enriched and conventional butter. The UFA/CLA enriched butter contained significantly higher CLA than conventional butter. α-Tocopherol and iron contents were also significantly higher in UFA/CLA enriched butter. The sensory profile of the UFA/CLA enriched butter showed a less intense creamy odour and cooked milk aroma than conventional butter. UFA/CLA enriched butter revealed a better spreadability. The olfactometric results of the fresh butter samples indicated that the enriched butter had more intense green, sulphury and fruity notes, due to (Z)-3-hexenol, dimethyl disulphide, 2-phenylethyl acetate and δ-decalactone, respectively, compared to conventional butter

Assessment of processing technologies which may improve the nutritional composition of dairy products – Overview of progress

Among consumers there is a growing demand for food products with a natural nutritional-physiological advantage over comparable conventional products. As part of an EU funded project, ALP is examining the possible impact of processing on nutritionally valuable milk components, using the example of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). The extent to which processing influences the CLA content of the end product was determined by literature research and own investigations of organic and conventional butter. Furthermore, new chemical, sensory-based and bio crystallization methods were evaluated by ALP and the University of Kassel to determine the oxidation stability of butter. In a further step the storage stability of CLA enriched and conventional butter was examined and the different methods will be compared. As a third objective a process for low-input CLA enrichment of milk fat (with a focus on alpine butter) has been developed. Since the process selected for the work is a physical enrichment process, it is accepted by international organic farming and food groups. Among the many benefits ascribed to CLA, it is believed to be an effective agent against cancer. The demand for foods with properties that promote human health is growing. The dairy industry has the opportunity to meet this demand by developing new dairy products with a nutritional-physiological function for the functional food market

Validity of the diagnosis of pneumonia in hospitalised patients with COPD.

Rationale: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia are two of the most common reasons for acute hospital admissions. Acute exacerbations and pneumonia present with similar symptoms in COPD patients, representing a diagnostic challenge with a significant impact on patient outcomes. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of radiographic consolidation with the discharge diagnoses of hospitalised COPD patients. Methods: COPD patients admitted to three UK hospitals over a 3-year period were identified. Participants were included if they were admitted with an acute respiratory illness, COPD was confirmed by spirometry and a chest radiograph was performed within 24 h of admission. Pneumonia was defined as consolidation on chest radiograph reviewed by two independent observers. Results: There were 941 admissions in 621 patients included in the final analysis. In 235 admissions, consolidation was present on chest radiography and there were 706 admissions without consolidation. Of the 235 admissions with consolidation, only 42.9% had a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia; 90.7% of patients without consolidation had a discharge diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. The presence of consolidation was associated with increased rate of high-dependency care admission, increased mortality and prolonged length of stay. Inhaled corticosteroid use was associated with recurrent pneumonia. Conclusions: Pneumonia is underdiagnosed in patients with COPD. Radiographic consolidation is associated with worse outcomes and prolonged length of stay. Incorrect diagnosis could result in inappropriate use of inhaled corticosteroids. Future guidelines should specifically address the diagnosis and management of pneumonia in COPD

Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production

As reported in literature the production of biodiesel should lead to a lower energy consumption than those obtainable with its use. So, to justify its consumption, a sustainable and “low input” production should be carried out. In order to assess the sustainability of Linum usitatissimum, Camelina sativa and Brassica carinata cultivation for biodiesel production in terms of energy used compared to that obtained, the index EROEI (Energy Return On Energy Invested) has been used. At this aim, an experimental field was realised in the south-eastern Sicilian land. During the autumn-winter crop cycle, no irrigation was carried out and some suitable agricultural practices have been carried out taking into account the peculiarity of each type of used seeds. The total energy consumed for the cultivation of oil bearing crops from sowing to the production of biodiesel represents the Input of the process. In particular, this concerned the energy embodied in machinery and tools utilized, in seed, chemical fertilizer and herbicide but also the energy embodied in diesel fuels and lubricant oils. In addition, the energy consumption relating to machines and reagents required for the processes of extraction and transesterification of the vegetable oil into biodiesel have been calculated for each crops. The energy obtainable from biodiesel production, taking into account the energy used for seed pressing and for vegetable oil transesterification into biodiesel, represents the Output of the process. The ratio Output/Input gets the EROEI index which in the case of Camelina sativa and Linum usatissimum is greater than one. These results show that the cultivation of these crops for biofuels production is convenient in terms of energy return on energy investment. The EROEI index for Brassica carinata is lower than one. This could means that some factors, concerning mechanisation and climati

The early evolution of Globular Clusters: the case of NGC 2808

Enhancement and spread of helium among globular cluster stars have been recently suggested as a way to explain the horizontal branch blue tails, in those clusters which show a primordial spread in the abundances of CNO and other elements involved in advanced CNO burning (D'Antona et al. 2002). In this paper we examine the implications of the hypothesis that, in many globular clusters, stars were born in two separate events: an initial burst (first generation), which gives origin to probably all high and intermediate mass stars and to a fraction of the cluster stars observed today, and a second, prolonged star formation phase (second generation) in which stars form directly from the ejecta of the intermediate mass stars of the first generation. In particular, we consider in detail the morphology of the horizontal branch in NGC 2808 and argue that it unveils the early cluster evolution, from the birth of the first star generation to the end of the second phase of star formation. This framework provides a feasible interpretation for the still unexplained dichotomy of NGC 2808 horizontal branch, attributing the lack of stars in the RR Lyr region to the gap in the helium content between the red clump, whose stars are considered to belong to the first stellar generation and have primordial helium, and the blue side of the horizontal branch, whose minimum helium content reflects the helium abundance in the smallest mass (~4Msun)contributing to the second stellar generation. This scenario provides constraints on the required Initial Mass Function, in a way that a great deal of remnant neutron stars and stellar mass black holes might have been produced.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, in press on The Astrophysical Journa

The Unique History of the Globular Cluster Omega Centauri

Using current observational data and simple dynamical modeling, we demonstrate that Omega Cen is not special among the Galactic globular clusters in its ability to produce and retain the heavy elements dispersed in the AGB phase of stellar evolution. The multiple stellar populations observed in Omega Cen cannot be explained if it had formed as an isolated star cluster. The formation within a progenitor galaxy of the Milky Way is more likely, although the unique properties of Omega Cen still remain a mystery.Comment: published version with minor change